Mayor Karl Dean

Mayor Karl Dean opened up his Green Hills home Saturday for a fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, who was in Nashville for the Tennessee Democratic Party's annual Jackson Day dinner.

Dean's spokeswoman, Bonna Johnson, confirmed Dean's role as fundraising host for the newly elected senator. Later that night, Dean attended the Jackson Day event, which also serves as a party fundraiser.

Dean, widely considered a potential Democratic candidate for statewide office in Tennessee, has gradually become more active in Tennessee Democratic politics.

He was a delegate to last year's Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. He introduced First Lady Michelle Obama during a fundraiser for President Barack Obama in Nashville. And last winter, he was host of a state Democratic holiday party at his home, where former actress Ashley Judd spoke.

When President Obama came to Chattanooga last month for a jobs announcement, Dean was unable to attend because of a scheduling conflict.

Kaine, former mayor of Richmond, governor of Virginia and chairman of the Democratic National Committee, defeated Republican George Allen last year to earn his seat in the Senate.

- Joey Garrison

Yarbro appeals for support

With the race in Senate District 21 beginning to look like a three-person battle, attorney Jeff Yarbro appears to be stepping up his campaign.

Yarbro sent out a mass email to potential supporters Thursday afternoon urging them to get behind his campaign. The last time the Democratic lawyer blasted a message was in early May, when he thanked state Sen. Douglas Henry, the incumbent who defeated him three years ago, upon Henry's retirement announcement.

Yarbro laid out portions of his platform, asked for donations and listed ways recipients could get involved in his campaign.

"Let's get to work," he said.

The timing may be coincidental, but it comes as a third Democrat, longtime activist Mary Mancini, has been weighing whether to get into the race. Metro Councilman Jason Holleman already has said he plans to run.

The seat appears to be a lock for the Democrats, so the winner of the primary will have a major edge in the general election. The district covers portions of East Nashville, Sylvan Park, Vanderbilt, Green Hills and Antioch that lean heavily toward Democrats in state and city elections.

- Chas Sisk

Charter school proponents hire prominent lobbyist

Charter school advocates have tapped a prominent city hall lobbyist days before the Metro Council will consider a resolution to ask the state for a moratorium from opening new charters in Nashville.

James Weaver, an attorney and lobbyist at Waller Law, is best known for his work in land use, real estate and other economic development matters. But on Thursday, he registered to lobby for the Tennessee Charter School Center, the state's leading charter advocacy group, which typically spends more time at the state capitol building.

Greg Thompson, CEO of the center, confirmed that the added lobbyist presence is in response to the pending resolution, which has been introduced by Councilman Steve Glover, chairman of the council's Education Committee.

"When you have charter schools that are performing well and doing great things for students, why would you put a moratorium on something that's helping kids?" Thompson said.

The council will consider the non-binding resolution on Tuesday.

The measure doesn't carry a policy effect, but its passage would reinforce the efforts of critics who continue to accuse publicly financed, privately led charters of draining funds from the school system.

It would ask Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman for a charter moratorium in Nashville until Metro's revenue projections "improve substantially" or it finds ways to improve its budget outlook.

If one isn't granted, the resolution asks the state to adjust its Basic Education Program formula to "compensate for the negative fiscal impact that charter schools have on school systems."

And if neither of these requests are granted, it would urge MNPS officials to work with Tennessee's other large urban school districts to "explore necessary legislative or legal remedies."

The addition of a lobbyist - one with a client list longer than any other at the council - shows a clear desire among charter backers to see the resolution defeated.

- Joey Garrison

GOP women plan to have summit at Hermitage Hotel

A group dedicated to increasing the number of Republican women elected to public office will have a conference starting this afternoon in downtown Nashville.

Right Women, Right Now - an initiative of the Republican State Leadership Committee - will meet for a summit today and Tuesday hosted by House Speaker Beth Harwell, the group's co-chair.

The summit is scheduled to take place in the Hermitage Hotel. The venue was selected in part because of its status as a center for debate over women's suffrage in the 1910s and 1920s, said Jill Bader, the initiative's director.

About 100 people are expected to attend the meeting, which otherwise is closed to the public. The goal, Bader said, is to help Republicans find women who have the qualifications to run for office and persuade them to run.